An instructor and student flying a Spartan School of Aeronautics 1980 Cessna 172RG survived an onboard fire and off-airport emergency landing in Oklahoma, Tuesday, if somewhat worse for the wear. Instructor Jade Schiewe, 28, and student Zachary Pfaff, 26, were confronted with smoke and flames coming up from the floorboard area while on a training flight. Schiewe got on the radio and reported fire in the cockpit along with a mayday call before setting the aircraft down in a field a few miles west of Jones River Airport. Both Schiewe and Pfaff escaped the aircraft, but Schiewe suffered burns. After landing, the aircraft and the area surrounding it, were soon fully engulfed in flames.
According to local news, Schiewe suffered second- and third-degree burns to the lower part of his right leg, while Pfaff appeared to be uninjured. The fire quickly spread, igniting dry grass surrounding the aircraft. Tulsa Fire was called to the scene and the brush fire was extinguished, but the aircraft was consumed by fire.
